Walter F. Fontaine (January 12, 1871 – September 21, 1938) was an American architect of French Heritage from Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

Early life Fontaine was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts in 1871 to parents that had moved there from Woonsocket. When he was a young child, his family moved back to Woonsocket, where his father, John B. Fontaine (1836-1895) was a prominent building contractor.Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island. Vol. 3. 1908

He was educated in the local schools, and began his architectural training in 1887 in the office of Willard Kent, a local architect."Walter F. Fontaine". http://www.woonsocket.org/. n.d. Web.

Career After additional training in Europe in 1893, he worked for the Providence firm of Stone, Carpenter & Willson. Near the end of his time there, he was responsible for the construction supervision of that firm's Providence Public Library and Union Trust Co. Building.

In 1901 he returned to Woonsocket where he opened his own office. Beginning in 1903, he worked with Elmer H. Kinnicutt as Fontaine & Kinnicutt. This association ended upon Kinnicutt's death in January 1910. In 1921, his two sons, Oliver W. and Paul N. Fontaine began working for him. By this time Joseph M. Mosher was also associated with the office. In 1935, both sons became partners in the newly reorganized firm of Walter F. Fontaine & Sons. It remained as such until the elder Fontaine's death.

Fontaine was a member of the AIA and served for a time as Vice President of the Rhode Island chapter. He was also a member of the Rhode Island State Planning Board.

Legacy After their father's death, his sons reorganized the firm as Walter F. Fontaine, Inc. It remained as such until 1942, when Paul left to participate in the war effort.Progressive Architecture 1943: 75. In his brother's absence, Oliver opened his own office, which remained active into the 1970s. Several of his buildings have been included in the National Register of Historic Places.

Personal life Fontaine and his wife, Obeline Lucier Fontaine (1869–1938), died during the Hurricane of 1938 at their summer home in Charlestown, Rhode Island.

Architectural works

While in private practice, 1901-1903: Commercial Block, 99-113 Main St., Woonsocket, RI (1902)Main Street Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1991. Central Police Station (Former), 139 Front St., Woonsocket, RI (1903)Engineering News 1903: 121. Fontaine & Kinnicutt, 1903-1910: St. Mary R. C. Church, 46 Valley St., Willimantic, CT (1903) - This church suffered a major fire in May 2013, but expects to rebuild.Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide 2 May 1903: 864. St. Aloysius R. C. Church, 2 Beck St., Newburyport, MA (1904)"Church of Aloysius de Gonzaga". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web. Malcolm Campbell House, 129 Lyman St., Woonsocket, RI (1905)Historic Resources of Woonsocket, Rhode Island NRHP Nomination. 1976. Our Lady of Good Help R. C. Church, 1063 Victory Hwy., Mapleville, RI (1905)Jordy, William H. Buildings of Rhode Island. 2004. Our Lady of Lourdes R. C. School, 211 Carleton St., Providence, RI (1905)Our Lady of Lourdes Church Complex NRHP Nomination. 1990. French Worsted Mills, 153 Hamlet Ave., Woonsocket, RI (1906) - Demolished 2012.Fibre and Fabric 12 May 1906: 13. Ervin Dunn House, 168 Woodland Rd., Woonsocket, RI (1907) St. Lawrence R. C. Church, 624 Woonasquatucket Ave., Centerdale, RI (1907)Angell, Frank C. Annals of Centerdale. 1909. St. Matthew R. C. School, 909 Lonsdale Ave., Central Falls, RI (1907)Central Falls, Rhode Island: Statewide Historical Preservation Report P-CF-1. 1978. First M. E. Church, 17 Federal St., Woonsocket, RI (1908) Notre Dame R. C. High School (Former), 62 Fales St., Central Falls, RI (1908)Engineering Record 12 Sept. 1908: 46b. St. Casimir R. C. Church, 228 Child St., Warren, RI (1908–09) - Demolished.Warren, Rhode Island: Statewide Historic Preservation Report B-W-1. 1975. Elisha D. Clarke House, 144 Woodland Rd., Woonsocket, RI (1909) Holy Family R. C. Church, 414 S. Main St. Woonsocket, RI (1909)Norton, Paul F. Rhode Island Stained Glass: An Historical Guide. 2001. Pothier School, 1044 Social St., Woonsocket, RI (1909)Engineering Record 4 July 1908: 60.Engineering Record 26 Dec. 1908: 41. Private practice, 1910-1935: Y. M. C. A. Building, 43 Federal St., Woonsocket, RI (1910–11)American Architect 9 Nov. 1910: 2. Mt. St. Francis Orphanage, 4 St. Joseph St., Woonsocket, RI (1911)Woonsocket, Rhode Island: Statewide Historic Preservation Report P-W-1. 1976. Edward T. Mee House, 253 Harris Ave., Woonsocket, RI (1912) Theron Metcalf School, 45 Winter St., Franklin, MA (1912–13)American Architect 7 Aug. 1912: 14.School Board Journal July 1913: 23. Thompson School, 10 Prospect St., Webster, MA (1912–13) Edmond H. Guerin House, 190 Glen Rd., Woonsocket, RI (1913) - The most expensive private home Fontaine designed. Woonsocket High School, 357 Park Pl., Woonsocket, RI (1913)American Contractor 29 March 1913: 55. Children's Building, Rhode Island State Sanatarium (Zambarano Hospital), Pascoag, RI (1914–15)Electrical World 19 Dec. 1914: 1225. St. Ann R. C. Church, 84 Cumberland St., Woonsocket, RI (1913–14)Engineering News 13 Nov. 1913: 325. Ralph E. Carpenter House, 217 Woodland Rd., Woonsocket, RI (1915)American Contractor 17 July 1915: 60. Charles A. Proulx House, 183 Glen Rd., Woonsocket, RI (1915) American Paper Tube Co. Factory, 93 Hazel St., Woonsocket, RI (1916)American Contractor 8 Jan. 1916: 33. McFee School, 108 High St., Woonsocket, RI (1916)American Contractor 8 April 1916: 55. Our Lady of Good Help R. C. School, 1063 Victory Hwy., Mapleville, RI (1916)American Contractor 25 Dec. 1915: 42. St. Charles Borromeo R. C. Church, 176 Dexter St., Providence, RI (1916)American Contractor 21 Oct. 1916: 62. Fifth Avenue School, 65 5th Ave., Woonsocket, RI (1917)American Contractor21 July 1917: 47. Goldmark Knitting Co. Mill, 43 Railroad St., Woonsocket, RI (1917)American Contractor 25 Nov. 1916: 53. St. Joseph R. C. Church, 191 Bucknam St., Everett, MA (1917) - Demolished.American Contractor 26 May 1917: 27/ Blackstone High School, 86 Main St., Blackstone, MA (1919) - Demolished."Blackstone High School". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web. Convent for Notre Dame R. C. Church, 626 Broad St., Central Falls, RI (1919)American Architect 25 June 1919: 16. Laurier Theatre, 17 Cumberland St., Woonsocket, RI (1919) - Demolished.American Contractor 15 Feb. 1919: 55. St. Louis de Gonzague R. C. Church (Remodeling), 48 W. Hollis St., Nashua, NH (1920–22) - Mostly demolished 1976.American Contractor 17 July 1920: 54. St. Anthony R. C. School, 190 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford, MA (1921)American Contractor 6 Nov. 1921: 53. Mt. St. Charles Academy, Logee St., Woonsocket, RI (1922–24)American Contractor 9 Sept. 1922: 38. St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church, 394 Blackstone St., Woonsocket, RI (1922)American Contractor 27 April 1921: 48. Woonsocket Commercial School, 77 Federal St., Woonsocket, RI (1922)American Contractor 5 Aug. 1922: 48. Sacred Heart R. C. School, Richards Ave., North Attleborough, MA (1923)"Sacred Heart Parochial School". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web. St. Cecilia R. C. Church, 1253 Newport Ave., Pawtucket, RI (1923–24)Engineering News-Record 1923: 55. Convent for St. Ann R. C. Church, 138 Elm St., Woonsocket, RI (1924) Walter F. Fontaine House, 211 Glen Rd., Woonsocket, RI (1925) - The architect's own home. Our Lady of Good Counsel R. C. School, 59 Pleasant St., Phenix, RI (1926)Historic and Architectural Resources of West Warwick, Rhode Island: A Preliminary Report. 1979. Union St.-Jean Baptiste d'Amerique Building, 1 Social St., Woonsocket, RI (1926)Meras, Phyllis and Katherine Imbrie. An Explorer's Guide: Rhode Island. 2012. Woonsocket Jr. High School, 357 Park Pl., Woonsocket, RI (1926–27) - Actually a very large addition to the 1913 high school.Domestic Engineering 1926: 95. Hospital, Rhode Island State Sanitarium, Pascoag, RI (1927–28)Domestic Engineering and the Journal of Mechanical Contracting 1927: 13 St. Joseph R. C. Church, 208 S. Main St., Attleboro, MA (1927–28)"Saint Joseph's French Catholic Church". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web. Bellingham Public Library, 10 Common St., Bellingham, MA (1929)"Bellingham Public Library". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web. St. Matthew R. C. Church, 1030 Dexter St., Central Falls, RI (1929) St. James R. C. Church, 33 Division St., Manville, RI (1930–32)Guide officiel des Franco-Américains. 1940. Chris the King R. C. Church, 120 Legris Ave., Centerville, RI (1932–33) - Burned 1954.Bridgemen's Magazine 1932: 163. Convent for St. Matthew R. C. Church, 189 Wellington St., Fall River, MA (1932–33) St. Charles Borromeo R. C. School, 155 Harrison St., Providence, RI (1932–33)Bridgemen's Magazine 1932: 99. Convent for St. John R. C. Church, St. John St., Arctic, RI (1933–34) - Demolished.Engineering News-Record 1933: 91. Sacred Heart R. C. Church, 321 S. Broadway, Lawrence, MA (1934–36)"Sacread Heart Roman Catholic Church". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web. Walter F. Fontaine & Sons, 1935-1938: Nurses' Home, Rhode Island State Sanitarium, Pascoag, RI (1935–36)Bridgemen's Magazine 1935: 88. Our Lady of Victories R. C. Church, 130 Prospect St., Woonsocket, RI (1935–36)Bridgemen's Magazine 1935: 547-548. Slatersville School, 83 Greene St., Slatersville, RI (1935–36)Bridgemen's Magazine 1935: 682. St. John R. C. Church, 20 Washington St., Arctic, RI (1936–40) St. Luke R. C. Church, 108 Washington Rd., Barrington, RI (1936) - Altered beyond recognition. St. Joseph R. C. Church, 1200 Mendon Rd., Woonsocket, RI (1938) - The last building Fontaine designed before his death.

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